Chair assembly

ABSTRACT

A chair assembly includes a seat support unit disposed on a base, and an annular seat frame mounted on the support unit. The support unit has a middle portion mounted on the base, a front portion extending forwardly and downwardly from the middle portion, and a rear portion which extends rearwardly and upwardly from the middle portion and which has a height higher than the front portion. The seat frame has a rear frame portion mounted detachably on the rear portion of the support unit, and a front frame portion mounted detachably on the front portion of the support unit such that the seat frame is disposed to extend along an inclined plane that inclines forwardly and downwardly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a chair assembly, more particularly to a chair assembly which has a relatively simple structure and which is convenient to pack and transport, such as from a manufacturer to a retailer or a consumer.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A conventional chair assembly that includes a seat frame rotatable relative to a base typically has a relatively complicated structure, and involves tedious assembling procedures for assembling and fastening together individual parts. This kind of chair assembly is typically assembled by a manufacturer, and is sent to a retailer or a consumer in an assembled state. This unavoidably results in a larger storage space requirement and higher packaging and transport costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a chair assembly which has a relatively simple structure and which is convenient to pack and transport.

[0006] Accordingly, the chair assembly of the present invention includes a base adapted to be disposed on a ground surface, a seat support unit disposed on the base, and an annular seat frame mounted on the seat support unit. The seat support unit has a front portion, a rear portion opposite to the front portion, and a middle portion interconnecting the front and rear portions. The front portion extends forwardly and upwardly from the middle portion. The rear portion extends rearwardly and upwardly from the middle portion, and has a height higher than the front portion with respect to the middle portion. The middle portion is mounted on the base. The seat frame has a rear frame portion mounted detachably on the rear portion of the seat support unit, and a front frame portion connected to the rear frame portion and mounted detachably on the front portion of the seat support unit such that the seat frame is disposed to extend along an inclined plane that inclines forwardly and downwardly. The seat frame and the seat support unit cooperatively confine a cushion space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the chair assembly of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the first preferred embodiment;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, where a chair cushion is removed for the sake of clarity;

[0011]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment with the chair cushion removed therefrom;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a chair assembly according to the present invention, where a chair cushion is removed for the sake of clarity;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a partly-sectioned side view of the second preferred embodiment; and

[0014]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a resilient connecting unit of the chair assembly of the second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the first preferred embodiment of the chair assembly of this invention is shown to include a chair frame 3 and a chair cushion 31. The chair frame 3 includes a base 2 adapted to be disposed on a ground surface, a seat support unit 5 disposed on the base 2, and an annular seat frame 6 supported on the seat support unit 5. The chair cushion 31 is mounted on the annular seat frame 6.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the seat support unit 5 includes a curved support rod 50 which has a front rod section 52 extending forwardly and upwardly, a rear rod section 53 extending rearwardly and upwardly, and a substantially horizontal intermediate rod section 513 interconnecting integrally the front and rear rod sections 52, 53. The rear rod section 53 extends higher than the front rod section 52 with respect to the intermediate rod section 513. A front end of the front rod section 52 is formed with a front holding plate 522 transverse to the front rod section 52. A rear end of the rear rod section 53 is similarly formed with a rear holding plate 532 transverse to the rear rod section 53. Each of the front and rear holding plates 522, 532 is curved and has a concave top side. A horizontal flat mounting plate 512 is disposed under the intermediate rod section 513 and is secured thereto. An insert post 511 is fixed to a bottom side of the mounting plate 512 and extends downwardly from the mounting plate 512. The insert post 511 is inserted rotatably into an upright mounting tube 21 formed on a central portion of the base 2 through an open upper end of the mounting tube 21 for mounting the seat support unit 5 rotatably on the base 2. Accordingly, the seat support unit 5 is rotatable relative to the base 2 about an axis of the mounting tube 21.

[0017] The annular seat frame 6 is composed of front and rear frame portions 61, 62 in the form of curved rods with different curvatures. The front frame portion 61 is narrower than the rear frame portion 62, and has two opposite ends formed with restricted coupling shafts 612 that are inserted respectively into opposite open ends 622 of the rear frame portion 62 for connecting with the rear frame portion 62. The front frame portion 61 is held by the front holding plate 522 and is fastened thereto by means of screw fasteners 63. The rear frame portion 62 is held by the rear holding plate 532 and is fastened thereto by means of screw fasteners 63.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the chair cushion 31 has a peripheral portion 32 which is sewn to form a plurality of loops 321. The front and rear frame portions 61, 62 of the annular seat frame 6, before being assembled to each other, extend through the loops 321 such that the chair cushion 31 is disposed in a cushion space confined by the annular seat frame 6 and the seat support unit 5 and spans the front and rear frame portions 61, 62 of the annular seat frame 6.

[0019] When the chair assembly is to be transported, it can be easily detached into individual parts, mainly including the curved front and rear frame portions 61, 62 of the annular seat frame 6, the curved support rod 50, and the base 2. These individual parts can be packed compactly to result in a relatively small package size, thus facilitating transport and reducing transport and storage costs. With a relatively simple structure, the chair assembly can be easily assembled by the consumer.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second preferred embodiment of the chair assembly according to the present invention is shown to similarly include a base 2 with an upright mounting tube 21, a seat support unit 7 disposed on the base 2, and an annular seat frame 6 mounted on the seat support unit 7. The annular seat frame 6, as with the previous embodiment, is composed of a curved front frame portion 61 and a curved rear frame portion 62. The seat support unit 7 includes a pair of curved support rods 73 which are spaced-apart from each other. Each of the support rods 73 has a front rod section 721 extending forwardly and upwardly, a rear rod section 731 extending rearwardly and upwardly, and an intermediate rod section 712 interconnecting integrally the front and rear rod sections 721, 731. The rear rod section 731 extends higher than the front rod section 721 with respect to the intermediate rod section 712. A front end of the front rod section 721 is formed with a curved front holding plate 722 transverse to the front rod section 721 for holding and mounting the front frame portion 61 of the annular seat frame 6 thereon. A rear end of the rear rod section 731 is similarly formed with a curved rear holding plate 732 transverse to the rear rod section 731 for holding and mounting the rear frame portion 62 of the annular seat frame 6 thereon. The seat support unit 7 is mounted rotatably on the base 2 by extending a downward insert post 711 rotatably into the upright mounting tube 21 on the base 2. A resilient connecting unit 9 is provided for connecting the intermediate rod sections 712 of the support rods 73 to the insert post 711.

[0021] With further reference to FIG. 7, the resilient connecting unit 9 includes a pair of horizontal extending plates 93 formed respectively on the intermediate rod section 712 of the support rods 73 and extending toward each other. Two parallel horizontal lateral connecting plates 92 are disposed under the extending plates 93 and proximate to the intermediate rod sections 712 of the support rods 73, respectively. The lateral connecting plates 92 extend transverse to the extending plates 93, and have rear ends secured to the extending plates 93, respectively. A horizontal front connecting plate 91 is disposed under the lateral connecting plates 92, and is transverse to the lateral connecting plates 92. The front connecting plate 91 has two opposite ends secured to front ends of the lateral connecting plates 92 and an intermediate part 912 between the opposite ends. A horizontal middle connecting plate 90 is disposed under the front connecting plate 91, and extends transverse to the front connecting plate 91 and parallel to the lateral connecting plates 92. The middle connecting plate 90 has a front end secured to the intermediate part 912 of the front connecting plate 91, and is disposed between the lateral connecting plates 92. The middle connecting plate 90 has a rear end 902 secured to an upper end of the insert post 711. A horizontal rear connecting plate 94 extends parallel to the front connecting plate 91 and has two opposite end disposed on and fastened to the extending plates 93, respectively, to interconnect the intermediate rod sections 712 of the support rods 73. The rear end 902 of the middle connecting plate 90 is thus disposed below an intermediate part of the rear connecting plate 94, and a clearance is formed therebetween. In this manner, with the provision of the resilient connecting unit 9, the support rods 73 can spring downwardly and upwardly relative to the base 2.

[0022] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

I claim:
 1. A chair assembly comprising: a base adapted to be disposed on a ground surface; a seat support unit disposed on said base, said seat support unit having a front portion, a rear portion opposite to said front portion, and a middle portion interconnecting said front and rear portions, said front portion extending forwardly and upwardly from said middle portion, said rear portion extending rearwardly and upwardly from said middle portion and having a height higher than said front portion with respect to said middle portion, said middle portion being mounted on said base; and an annular seat frame mounted on said seat support unit, said seat frame having a rear frame portion mounted detachably on said rear portion of said seat support unit, and a front frame portion connected to said rear frame portion and mounted detachably on said front portion of said seat support unit such that said seat frame is disposed to extend along an inclined plane that inclines forwardly and downwardly, said seat frame and said seat support unit cooperatively confining a cushion space.
 2. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base is formed with an upright mounting tube which has an open upper end, said seat support unit including an insert post formed at said middle portion, said insert post extending downwardly and being inserted rotatably into said mounting tube through said open upper end of said mounting tube so as to be rotatable about an axis of said mounting tube.
 3. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seat support unit includes a curved support rod which has a front rod section disposed at said front portion and having a front end that is mounted on said front frame portion of said seat frame, a rear rod section disposed at said rear portion and having a rear end that is mounted on said rear frame portion of said seat frame, and an intermediate rod section which is disposed at said middle portion and which interconnects said front and rear rod sections, said insert post being disposed below said intermediate rod section of said support rod.
 4. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said seat support unit further includes a horizontal mounting plate disposed under and secured to said intermediate rod section of said support rod, said insert post being fixed to and extending downwardly from said mounting plate.
 5. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said front end of said front rod section is formed with a transverse front holding plate which holds said front frame portion of said seat frame and which is mounted on said front frame portion of said seat frame, said rear end of said rear rod section being formed with a rear holding plate which holds said rear frame portion and which is mounted on said rear frame portion of said seat frame.
 6. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said seat support unit includes a pair of spaced-apart curved support rods, each of which has a front rod section disposed at said front portion, a rear rod section disposed at said rear portion, and an intermediate rod section interconnecting said front and rear rod sections, said seat support unit further including a resilient connecting unit for connecting said intermediate rod sections of said support rods to said insert post such that said seat support unit can spring downwardly and upwardly relative to said base.
 7. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said front end of said front rod section of each of said support rods is formed with a transverse front holding plate which holds said front frame portion of said seat frame and which is mounted on said front frame portion of said seat frame, said rear end of said rear rod section of each of said support rods being formed with a rear holding plate which holds said rear frame portion and which is mounted on said rear frame portion of said seat frame.
 8. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said insert post has an upper end connected to said resilient connecting unit, said resilient connecting unit including a pair of horizontal extending plates secured to said intermediate rod sections of said support rods and extending toward each other, a parallel pair of horizontal lateral connecting plates transverse to and disposed under said extending plates, respectively, said lateral connecting plates having rear ends secured respectively to said extending plates, and front ends opposite to said rear ends, a horizontal front connecting plate transverse to and disposed under said lateral connecting plates, said front connecting plate having two opposite ends secured respectively to said front ends of said lateral connecting plates and an intermediate part between said opposite ends, and a middle connecting plate disposed under said front connecting plate and between said lateral connecting plates, said middle connecting plate having a front end secured to said intermediate part of said front connecting plate and a rear end which is opposite to said front end of said middle connecting plate and which is secured to said upper end of said insert post.
 9. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said resilient connecting unit further includes a rear connecting plate parallel to said front connecting plate, said rear connecting plate having two opposite ends disposed on and secured to said extending plates for interconnecting said extending plates.
 10. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front frame portion of said seat frame is narrower than said rear frame portion.
 11. The chair assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a chair cushion disposed in said cushion space, said chair cushion spanning said front and rear frame portions of said seat frame and having a peripheral portion mounted on said front and rear frame portions of said seat frame. 